The Perfect Spots for Campers to Enjoy a Glass or Two of Local Flavor

RVers have another reason to make the trek to and across Michigan: local brews, wines, and spirits. Michigan has grown quite the reputation the past few years, and wineries and breweries have sprouted up across the state in rapid numbers.  Many of them also offer food, sometimes a full menu, so it’s possible to take the whole family.

Breweries and wineries don’t just offer delicious, locally crafted beverages, they offer a taste of local culture. A taste of Michigan.

Upper Peninsula

Head to Marquette to check out the flourishing micro-brewery scene and the picturesque Lake Superior. Chocolay River Brewery, which opened in September 2014 within The Bayou Restaurant & Bar, offer five craft brewed ales. Blackrocks Breweryoffers seasonal brews, limited brews, and a standard flight. Their 51K IPA, heavy on the hops, was rated 96/100 by Draft Magazine. In stores, Blackrocks products stand out from the crowd by being in cans rather than glass bottles. The Vierlingon South Front is home to the Marquette Harbor Brewery. One of the first brew pubs in the state, Marquette Harbor Brewery specializes in ales and lagers, including honey wheat ale and a red ale. Another stop to make is the Ore Dock Brewing Co. on Spring Street, which opened in 2012. The brewery has already made a name for itself. Enjoy both American and Belgian style beers that run the gamut: porters, ales, IPAs, and wheat.

Beer enthusiasts flock to Marquette in September for the Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild, a good chance for anyone to enjoy multiple brews in one place. This event usually sells out fast so it’s important to get your tickets online as soon as they are available.

Northwest

When it comes to wine, there are two northern Michigan counties that will knock your socks off: Grand Traverse and Leelanau. The area is perfectly arranged at the 45th parallel, benefiting from the landscape, freshwater, breezes, and climate. With around a dozen wineries in and around Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula and more than twenty on the Leelanau Peninsula in the towns of Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor, and Suttons Bay, travelers have their pick of tasting rooms and wine varieties.

Within Traverse City are two wine tasting rooms: Left Foot Charley and Black Star Farms. These are within easy driving distance of local campgrounds and RV parks. There is a wine trail for the Old Mission Peninsula that visits eight wineries.Leelanau has wine trails as well, three in fact: the Sleeping Bear Loop, the Northern Loop, and the Grand Traverse Bay Loop. Visiting the wineries will give you an opportunity to speak with the winemakers and possibly go on a tour of their vineyards and facilities.

Northeast

The Sunrise Side is less traveled than other parts of the state, and it’s not well-known for wine and beer… but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. In fact, the area is growing considerably in those industries. Just three years ago saw the launch of theWine & Hops Trail, which covers a generous area. The trail is a combination of eleven wineries and breweries as well as local attractions such as Charity Island Lighthouse in Au Gres and the Alpena Shipwreck Tours in Alpena. Most of the breweries and wineries are concentrated near the towns of Cheboygan, Rose City and Alpena.

Southwest

When it comes to beer, there are two reigning kings – Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Grand Rapids was voted “Best Beer Town” by the readers of USA Today in 2014. Many breweries are within easy walking distance of one another while some require a little more travel to reach, although not much. You’ve probably heard of at least one of them: Founders, ranked as one of the top breweries in the world. Grand Rapids Brewing Co. is also the Midwest’s first USDA-certified organic brewery.

Kalamazoo is home base for Bell’s, whose popular Oberon beer is a Michigan native’s favorite during the summer months. Half of K-Zoo’s breweries are within easy walking distance of one another, and the surrounding areas – Battle Creek, Allegan, Marshall, Paw Paw – offer even more places to visit.

Wine lovers can head to the water to satisfy their palates. The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail boasts multiple vineyards and tasting rooms, including Lemon Creek, Tabor Hill, and Round Barn, stretching from south of Holland to the border of Indiana.

Southeast

There are so many choices for beer in southeast Michigan that it’s difficult to visit them all. Downtown Detroit and college town Ann Arbor – a 45 minute drive west – have the most choices. It’s easy to see how Ann Arbor, and even nearby Ypsilanti, could grow such a scene. After all, the University of Michigan has more than 40,000 students. Detroit, despite all its troubles, is seeing a lot of growth and seems to be on the upswing. Brewers enjoy the history and architecture of the Motor City. To see everything that’s available, check out The Beer Mapping Project, which lists every type of brewing operation within the vicinity of any zip code.

It goes without saying, but don’t drink and drive. Enjoy the bounty Michigan has to offer in the pub, at the brewery, or in the comfort of your camper. And make sure to reference the MARVAC campground directory to find a place to stay nearest your chosen destination.

Resources and Guides
Michigan Brewers Guild: www.mibeer.com
Michigan Beer Guide: www.michiganbeerguide.com
Pure Michigan: www.michigan.org/breweries/map